Coalition Talks Collapse As Time Runs Short, Deputy FinMin Eyes SOE Privatisation

LOCAL NEWS

• Coalition talks between parties have broken down, with the deadline for forming councils in hung municipalities looming. Action SA has confirmed that parties have rejected proposals from the DA, where they seek to control major metros like Tshwane & Joburg.
  • The DA wants control of both metros, believing that the largest coalition partner should get the mayoral position. Meanwhile, talks between the EFF and ANC have collapsed completely, with the EFF not entertaining any more negotiations with the ruling party.
  • The DA says it still has faith in the talks, but is concerned it may lose Joburg to an ANC/PA alliance if it cannot sway ActionSA
• EFF leader Malema says it is now the party's mission to destabilise the ANC where it governs with a slight outright majority following the collapse of talks.
  • Says it will now vote against it in every council and mobilise from within its ranks for its councillors to dissent
• Deputy FinMin Masondo says government should steer away from a blanket ban on talk of getting the private sector involved with struggling state-run companies, adding that getting private groups involved would boost competition and efficiencies where the state has failed.
  • He highlighted the inefficiencies of state-run power supply through Eskom and freight through Transnet as examples where private sector involvement would boost reliability and reduce costs for end customers.
  • However, he stressed that the subject needs more research and clear guidelines of how this would work